High-efficiency, side-pumped diode laser system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cutting or ablating hard tissue, includes an optical cavity; a gain medium disposed within the optical cavity; a diode light pump disposed within the optical cavity and optically aligned to light pump the gain medium to generate laser light. The generated laser light has a wavelength and power density suitable for cutting and ablating hard tissue.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 10/178,080, filed Jun. 21, 2002 and entitled HIGH-EFFICIENCY,SIDE-PUMPED DIODE LASER SYSTEM (Att. Docket B19280P), which is commonlyassigned and the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to cutting devices and, moreparticularly, to diode laser systems.

2. Description of Related Art

A solid-state laser system generally comprises a laser rod for emittingcoherent light and a stimulation source for stimulating the laser rod toemit the coherent light. Flashlamps are typically used as stimulationsources. Diodes may also be used for the excitation source. The use ofdiodes for generating light amplification by stimulated emission isdiscussed in the book Solid-State Laser Engineering, Fourth ExtensivelyRevised and Updated Edition, by Walter Koechner, published in 1996.

Prior art laser diode pumped lasers have been either end-pumped, asdemonstrated in FIG. 1 a or side-pumped. End pumping configurations canbe more efficient and can produce a better transverse mode. In FIG. 1 a,wherein “HR” denotes a high reflectivity element and “OC” denotes anoutput coupling element, laser output is focused into a fiber via alens. Side pumping constructions, on the other hand, can be morescalable therefore enabling the generation of relatively high laserpower and energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method ofcutting or ablating hard tissue is disclosed, comprising the steps ofproviding a gain medium, a diode, and an optical cavity; placing thegain medium and the diode within the optical cavity so that the diodearray is optically aligned to pump the gain medium; activating the diodeto light pump the gain medium and generate laser light; and directingthe laser light onto the hard tissue to cut or ablate the hard tissue.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofcutting or ablating hard tissue comprises the steps of providing a gainmedium, a diode light pump, and an optical cavity; placing the gainmedium and the diode light pump within the optical cavity so that thediode light pump is optically aligned to light pump the gain medium;activating the diode light pump to light pump the gain medium andgenerate laser light; and directing the laser light onto the hard tissueto cut or ablate the hard tissue.

According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for cuttingor ablating hard tissue comprises an optical cavity; a gain mediumdisposed within the optical cavity; a diode light pump disposed withinthe optical cavity and optically aligned to light pump the gain mediumto generate laser light, wherein the generated laser light has awavelength and power density suitable for cutting and ablating hardtissue.

While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake ofgrammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expresslyunderstood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by theconstruction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accordedthe full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition providedby the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in thecase where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are tobe accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112.

Any feature or combination of features described herein are includedwithin the scope of the present invention provided that the featuresincluded in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as willbe apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge ofone skilled in the art. In addition, any feature or combination offeatures may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the presentinvention. For purposes of summarizing the present invention, certainaspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention aredescribed. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily allsuch aspects, advantages or features will be embodied in any particularimplementation of the present invention. Additional advantages andaspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detaileddescription and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 a is a schematic illustration of an end-pumped diode laser inaccordance with the prior art;

FIG. 1 b is a side-pumped diode laser according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 a is a schematic top view of a laser head according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 b is a schematic side view of a laser head according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a regulated laser pulse format according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 a shows the population inversion in a CW pumping regime accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 4 b shows the resonator Q due to the Q-switch hold-off according tothe present invention;

FIG. 4 c shows the resulting laser pulse from FIGS. 4 a and 4 baccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 a shows the quasi CW current supplied to the pumping laser diodeaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 b shows the population inversion in the quasi CW pumpingaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 c shows resulting laser pulse from FIGS. 5 a and 5 b according tothe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a representation corresponding to a preferred pulse shape; and

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of a pulse of FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing fluid used in combination with a laserin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a plot of output optical energy versus time for a laser systemin accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to particular embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numbers areused in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form andare not to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, forpurposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as,top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear,and front, are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Suchdirectional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of theinvention in any manner.

Although the disclosure herein refers to certain illustratedembodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are presentedby way of example and not by way of limitation. The intent of thefollowing detailed description, although discussing exemplaryembodiments, is to be construed to cover all modifications,alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments as may fall within thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method ofcutting or ablating hard tissue is disclosed, comprising the steps ofproviding a gain medium, a diode array, and an optical cavity; placingthe gain medium and the diode array within the optical cavity so thatthe diode array is optically aligned to side pump the gain medium;activating the diode array to light pump the gain medium and generatelaser light; and directing the laser light onto the hard tissue to cutor ablate the hard tissue.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofcutting or ablating hard tissue comprises the steps of providing a gainmedium, a diode light pump, and an optical cavity; placing the gainmedium and the diode light pump within the optical cavity so that thediode light pump is optically aligned to light pump the gain medium;activating the diode light pump to light pump the gain medium andgenerate laser light; and directing the laser light onto the hard tissueto cut or ablate the hard tissue.

According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for cuttingor ablating hard tissue, comprises an optical cavity; a gain mediumdisposed within the optical cavity; a diode light pump disposed withinthe optical cavity and optically aligned to light pump the gain mediumto generate laser light, wherein the generated laser light has awavelength and power density suitable for cutting and ablating hardtissue.

In any of the above aspects, the gain medium may comprise a laser rod,such as an Erbium-based laser rod. More particularly, the gain mediummay comprise an Erbium-based crystalline laser rod for generating laserlight in a range between 1.73 and 2.94 microns. The laser light can begenerated in the TEMoo mode to overcome thermal effects. In accordancewith a method of the present invention, the hard tissue can comprise,for example, tooth or bone tissue. Temporal pulse control can be used toattain a uniform temporal pulse pattern. In another embodiment, gainswitching or Q-switching can be used to attain the uniform temporalpulse pattern. The diode light pump can comprise a diode array, and thediode array can be optically aligned to side pump the gain medium. Thediode light pump can be placed within the optical cavity so that thediode array is optically aligned to side pump the gain medium.

Any feature or combination of features described herein are includedwithin the scope of the present invention provided that the featuresincluded in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as willbe apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge ofone of ordinary skill in the art.

The methods and apparatuses of this application are intended for use, tothe extent the technology is compatible, with existing technologiesincluding the apparatuses and methods disclosed in any of the followingpatents and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,247; U.S. Pat. No.5,785,521; U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,037; U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,367; U.S. Pat.No. 6,231,567; and U.S. Ser. No. 09/848,010 (filed May 2, 2001), whichincorporates by reference the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,499, allof which are assigned to BioLase Technology, Inc. and are incorporatedherein by reference. The referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,499 discloses anelectromagnetic energy source (e.g., laser) that generates an outputoptical energy distribution including an output pulse of optical energyhaving a full-width half-max ranges closer to a beginnings than an endsof the output pulses of optical energy and also discloses full-widthhalf-max values of the output pulse ranging from about 0.025 to about250 microseconds.

The diode side pumped Erbium crystalline laser of the present inventionmay emit at wavelengths between 1.73 and 2.94 μm. The pumping may beaccomplished by InGaAs laser diodes configured as bars or arraysemitting at 968 nm, and can be delivered in either a CW (continuouswave) or a QCW (quasi-continuous wave) mode of operation, at powerlevels that may begin at 40 W. With an optimized output coupling, thelight-to-light efficiency can be at least 10% and can reach a magnitudeup to 35%. One of the embodiments of this invention is that theseefficiency magnitudes are higher than those which may have beenpreviously attained, owing to the inventive design which seeks tomaximize the pump-to-laser mode overlap and to optimize outcoupling,specifically tailoring the outcoupling to the pulse format or CWoperation of the laser.

The oscillator of the present invention is a plano-plano resonatorcomprising a high reflectivity mirror and an outcoupling, partiallytransmitting mirror. For certain applications intracavity elements, suchas an electro-optic or acousto-optic cell for Q-switching, or an etalonfor wavelength tuning can be introduced. The laser can emit energy in,for example, one of the following modes of operation: CW, gain switchedobtained by quasi-CW operation of the pump laser diode, and Q-switchedby an acousto-optical (AO) device or Q-switched by an electro-optical(EO) device. Thermal management and temperature control are provided byeither air and/or water cooling, with the possibility of usingthermo-electric cooling.

In the category of the disclosed diode side pumped lasers included arethe following crystals: Er:LiYF₄ (Er:YLF) emitting at 1.73 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(13/2)

⁴I_(15/2) transition; Er:LiYF₄ emitting at 2.80 μm on the Er³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:Y₃Sc₂GasO₁₂ (Er:YSGG) emitting at 2.79 μm onthe Er³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:Gd₃Sc₂GasO₁₂ (Er:GSGG) emitting at 2.8 μm onthe Er³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:Gd₃GasO₁₂ (Er:GGG) emitting at 2.82 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er,Tm:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (TE:YAG) emitting at 2.69 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:KYF₄ emitting at 2.81 μm on the Er³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Ho,Yb:KYF₄ emitting at 2.84 μm on the Ho³⁺⁵I₆

⁵I₇ transition; Er:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (Er:YAG) emitting at 2.94 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:Y₃AlO₃ (Er:YALO) emitting at 2.71 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:KGd(WO₄)_(s) (Er:KGW) emitting at 2.8 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:KY(WO₄)_(s) (Er:KYW); Er:Al₃O₃ emitting on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:Lu₃O₃ emitting at emitting at 2.7 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:CaF₂ emitting at 2.75-2.85 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Cr,Tm,Er:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (CTE:YAG) emitting at 2.7 μm onthe Er³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:BaLu₂F₈ emitting at 2.8 μm on the Er³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; Er:BaY₂F₈ (Er:BYF) emitting at 2.7 μm on theEr³⁺⁴I_(11/2)

⁴I_(13/2) transition; and Cr:ZnSe emitting at 2-3 μm.

Due to their efficient interaction with biological tissue and water,these lasers are useful as surgical instruments, in the areas of, forexample, dental surgery, orthopedic surgery, tissue ablation, bonecutting and soft tissue surfacing. Particular applications may includeuse of the laser for expansion of atomized water or fluid particlesabove a target surface for mechanical cutting or ablation, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,247, entitled Atomized Fluid Particlesfor Electromagnetically Induced Cutting, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,521,entitled “Fluid Conditioning System,” the contents of which areexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

Another embodiment of the side diode pumped erbium lasers and Ho,Yb:KYF4laser is that when operated in pulses, the pulsed format is highlyrepetitive in time and intensity. This performance can facilitateprecise and predictable cutting, and can improve cutting efficiency. Indental and medical applications, this feature is consistent with lessheat or thermal denaturation of the tissue, which can provide forquicker healing.

The present invention is configured as shown in FIGS. 1 a, 2 a and 2 b.It applies the side-pumped configuration to: 1) pumping of erbium andHo,Yb:KYF4 crystals to extract laser emission in the 1.73 and 2.94 μmrange, 2) dental and medical cutting and resurfacing by mainly the 2.69to 2.95 μm range, 3) optimization of the dental and medical process byefficient delivery of the laser to the target and minimal thermalprocess. Configuration of the crystal itself can be rectangular orround. A rectangular shape may be preferred in one embodiment, althougha cylindrical shape may function well in modified embodiments. Thepumping wavelength should be chosen to be efficiently transferred intothe crystal, wherein for example the radiation wavelength of the diodepumping source matches a peak absorption of the active media or crystal.In one embodiment a lens may be used to couple the pump source to thelaser rod. Cooling sources and/or lenses may be positioned between thepump source and the laser rod. Regarding FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, FIG. 2 a isa schematic top view of a laser head according to the present inventionwherein “TEC” denotes thermo electric cooler, and FIG. 2 b is aschematic side view of a laser head according to the present inventionwherein opposing ends of the laser rod are cut to the Brewster angle toprovide polarization.

Regarding the present invention's application of the side-pumpedconfiguration to optimize dental and medical processes by efficientdelivery of the laser to the target and minimal thermal process,optimization is accomplished by radiating the target with a train ofwell regulated pulses, as shown in FIG. 3. What is shown is a sequenceof narrow pulses, each having a sufficiently high power, for instance 20kW, and an energy of 8 mJ. With a duty cycle of 0.02% this determines anaverage power of 4 W. A number of methods may be employed to attain sucha pulse format, among them: gain switching and Q-switching by either anelectro-optical or an acousto-optical Q-switch.

The Q-switch temporal trace is shown in FIGS. 4 a-4 c, wherein FIG. 4 ashows the population inversion in a CW pumping regime, FIG. 4 b showsthe resonator Q due to the Q-switch hold-off, and FIG. 4 c correspondsgenerally to FIG. 3 and shows the resulting laser pulse. The gain switchtemporal trace is shown in FIGS. 5 a-5 c, wherein FIG. 5 a shows thequasi-CW (QCW) current supplied to the pumping laser diode, FIG. 5 bshows the population inversion in the QCW pumping regime, and FIG. 5 cshows the resulting laser pulse. Because in gain switching the resonatorQ is never spoiled, the pulse evolves simultaneously with the buildup ofthe population inversion. Hence, the dynamics are similar to a freerunning laser, as in the pulse train shown in FIG. 6. However, as shownin FIG. 5 a, the gain is dropped to below threshold once the first spikeis generated, thus a gain switch pulse is formed as the first spikeonly, as shown in FIG. 7. Additional description is provided in thefollowing table.

Diode Pumped Laser Parameters

parameter Range Embodiment Example Wavelength 1.5-6.0 μm 2.6-3.0 μm 2.78μm Pulse duration 0.1-1000 μsec 0.1-5.0 μsec 1 μsec Pulse repetitionrate 1-1000 Hz 1-200 Hz 100 Hz (or in envelopes of 5-20 pulses separatedby 1.0-10 μsec) Energy per pulse 3-1000 mJ 10-500 mJ 50-100 mJ Averagepower 0.1-100 W 0.1-10 W 8 W Spot size 20-5000 μm 50-1000 μm 500 μm

As mentioned above, particular applications of the current invention mayinclude use of the laser for expansion of atomized water or fluidparticles above a target surface for mechanical cutting or ablation. Theabove-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,499 discloses (a) output opticalenergy distributions including output pulses of optical (e.g., laser)energy having full-width half-max ranges closer to beginnings than endsof the output pulses and (b) full-width half-max values of the outputpulses ranging from about 0.025 to about 250 microseconds.

With reference to FIG. 8, output pulses of output optical energydistributions can be useful for maximizing a cutting effect of anelectromagnetic energy source 32, such as a laser driven by a diode orflashlamp driving circuit 30, directed into a distribution (e.g., anatomized distribution) of fluid particles 34 above a target surface 36.An apparatus for directing output pulses of electromagnetic energy intoa distribution of fluid particles above a target surface is disclosed inthe mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,247. High-intensity leadingmicropulses 64, 66, and 68 (FIG. 9, infra) of the output pulse can beused to impart large amounts of energy into fluid particles to therebyexpand the fluid particles and apply mechanical cutting forces to thetarget surface. The trailing micropulses after the maximum micropulse 68have been found to further enhance the cutting efficiency. According toan aspect of the present invention, a single large leading micropulse 68may be generated or, alternatively, two or more large leadingmicropulses 68 (or 64, 66, for example) may be generated.

With reference to FIG. 9, an output optical energy distribution overtime of an electromagnetic energy source according to an aspect of thepresent invention is illustrated at 60. In the illustrated embodiment,the pulse width is about 200 microseconds. The output optical energydistribution 60 comprises a maximum value 62, a number of leadingmicropulses 64, 66, 68, and a portion of generally declining opticalenergy 70. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the micropulse 68 comprises amaximum value 62 which is at or near the very beginning of the outputpulse. Additionally, the full-width half-max value of the output opticalenergy distribution (e.g., output pulse) in FIG. 9 is approximately 70microseconds. Applicants' invention contemplates output pulsescomprising full-width half-max values greater than 0.025 microseconds.In some embodiments, the full-width half-max values range from about0.25 microseconds to about 250 microseconds and, more preferably, rangefrom 10 to 150 microseconds, but other ranges may also be possible.Additionally, Applicants' invention contemplates an output pulse widthof between 0.25 and 300 microseconds, for example.

As used herein, the full-width half-max range is defined from abeginning time, where the amplitude first rises above one-half the peakamplitude, to an ending time, where the amplitude falls below one-halfthe peak amplitude a final time during the pulse width. The full-widthhalf-max value is defined as the difference between the beginning timeand the ending time. The location of the full-width half-max range alongthe time axis, relative to the output pulse width, is closer to thebeginning of the pulse than the end of the pulse. The location of thefull-width half-max range is preferably within the first half of thepulse and, more preferably, is within about the first third of theoutput pulse along the time axis. Other locations of the full-widthhalf-max range are also possible in accordance with the presentinvention. The beginning time of the full-width half-max rangepreferably occurs within the first 10 to 15 microseconds and, morepreferably, occurs within the first 12.5 microseconds from the leadingedge of the output pulse. The beginning time, however, may occur eitherearlier or later within the output pulse. The beginning time ispreferably achieved within the first tenth of the pulse width.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that the methods of the present invention can facilitate formationof laser devices, and in particular side-pumped diode laser systems. Theabove-described embodiments have been provided by way of example, andthe present invention is not limited to these examples. Multiplevariations and modification to the disclosed embodiments will occur, tothe extent not mutually exclusive, to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of the foregoing description. Such variations andmodifications, however, fall well within the scope of the presentinvention as set forth in the following claims.

1. A method of cutting or ablating hard tissue, comprising the followingsteps: activating a diode array to side pump a gain medium and generateat least one pulse of electromagnetic energy having a full-widthhalf-max range closer to a beginning than an end of the pulse; placingfluid into a volume in close proximity to the hard tissue; and directingpulses of the electromagnetic energy into the volume in close proximityto the hard tissue to effectuate the cutting or ablating of the hardtissue.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the gain mediumcomprises a laser rod; the electromagnetic energy comprises laser light;and the laser light has a wavelength, pulse format, and power densitysuitable for cutting and ablating hard tissue and further has awavelength which is highly absorbed by water.
 3. The method as set forthin claim 1, wherein the gain medium comprises an Erbium-based laser rod.4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electromagneticenergy is generated in the TEMoo mode to attenuate thermal effects. 5.The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hard tissue comprisestooth tissue.
 6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hardtissue comprises bone.
 7. The method as set forth in claim 1, whereintemporal pulse control is used to attain a uniform temporal pulsepattern.
 8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein gain switchingor Q-switching is used in attaining the uniform temporal pulse pattern.9. A method of cutting or ablating hard tissue, comprising the followingsteps: activating a diode light pump to light pump a gain medium andgenerate at least one pulse of electromagnetic energy having afull-width half-max value in a range from about 0.025 to about 250microseconds; placing fluid into a volume in close proximity to the hardtissue; and directing pulses of the electromagnetic energy into thevolume in close proximity to the hard tissue to generate the cutting orablating of the hard tissue.
 10. The method as set forth in claim 9,wherein: the gain medium comprises a laser rod; the electromagneticenergy comprises laser light; and the laser light has a pulse format anda wavelength which are suitable for cutting and ablating hard tissue andwhich are highly absorbed by water.
 11. The method as set forth in claim9, wherein the gain medium comprises an Erbium-based laser rod.
 12. Themethod as set forth in claim 9, wherein the electromagnetic energy isgenerated in the TEMoo mode to attenuate thermal effects.
 13. The methodas set forth in claim 9, wherein the hard tissue comprises tooth tissue.14. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the hard tissuecomprises bone.
 15. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein temporalpulse control is used to attain a uniform temporal pulse pattern. 16.The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein gain switching orQ-switching is used in attaining the uniform temporal pulse pattern. 17.The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the diode light pumpcomprises a diode array.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 9, whereinthe diode light pump comprises a diode array, which is placed within anoptical cavity so that the diode array is optically aligned to side pumpthe gain medium.
 19. An apparatus for cutting or ablating hard tissuecomprising a diode light pump disposed within an optical cavity andoptically aligned to light pump a gain medium within the optical cavityto generate at least one pulse of electromagnetic energy having afull-width half-max range closer to a beginning than an end of the pulsethe apparatus being configured to direct the electromagnetic energy intoa volume in close proximity to the hard tissue so that the hard tissueis cut or ablated, wherein the electromagnetic energy is generated inthe TEMoo mode to attenuate thermal effects.
 20. The apparatus as setforth in claim 19, wherein: the gain medium comprises a laser rod; theelectromagnetic energy comprises laser light; the laser light has awavelength, pulse, and power density suitable for cutting and ablatinghard tissue and further has a wavelength that is highly absorbed bywater; and the apparatus further comprises a fluid output configured toplace fluid into a volume in close proximity to the hard tissue, wherebythe laser light is highly absorbed by fluid in the volume.
 21. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein: the gain medium comprisesan Erbium-based laser rod; the electromagnetic energy comprises laserlight having a wavelength, pulse, and power density suitable for cuttingand ablating hard tissue; and the apparatus further comprises a fluidoutput configured to place fluid into a volume in close proximity to thehard tissue, whereby the laser light is highly absorbed by fluid in thevolume.
 22. An apparatus for cutting or ablating hard tissue,comprising: a diode light pump disposed within an optical cavity andoptically aligned to light pump a gain medium within the optical cavityto generate at least one pulse of electromagnetic energy having afull-width half-max range closer to a beginning than an end of the pulsethe apparatus being configured to direct the electromagnetic energy intoa volume in close proximity to the hard tissue so that the hard tissueis cut or ablated, wherein the generated laser light has a wavelength,pulse, and power density suitable for cutting and ablating tooth tissue.23. An apparatus for cutting or ablating hard tissue comprising: a diodelight pump disposed within an optical cavity and optically aligned tolight pump a gain medium within the optical cavity to generate at leastone pulse of electromagnetic energy having a full-width half-max rangecloser to a beginning than an end of the pulse the apparatus beingconfigured to direct the electromagnetic energy into a volume in closeproximity to the hard tissue so that the hard tissue is cut or ablated,wherein the generated laser light has a wavelength, pulse, and powerdensity suitable for cutting and ablating bone.
 24. An apparatus forcutting or ablating hard tissue comprising: a diode light pump disposedwithin an optical cavity and optically aligned to light pump a gainmedium within the optical cavity to generate at least one pulse ofelectromagnetic energy having a full-width half-max range closer to abeginning than an end of the pulse, the apparatus being configured todirect the electromagnetic energy into a volume in close proximity tothe hard tissue so that the hard tissue is cut or ablated, whereintemporal pulse control is used to attain a uniform temporal pulsepattern.
 25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein gainswitching or Q-switching is used in attaining the uniform temporal pulsepattern.
 26. An apparatus for cutting or ablating hard tissue,comprising: a diode light pump disposed within an optical cavity andoptically aligned to light pump a gain medium within the optical cavityto generate at least one pulse of electromagnetic energy having afull-width half-max range closer to a beginning than an end of thepulse, the apparatus being configured to direct the electromagneticenergy into a volume in close proximity to the hard tissue so that thehard tissue is cut or ablated, wherein the diode light pump comprises adiode array.
 27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein thediode light pump is optically aligned to side pump the gain medium. 28.The apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein the gain mediumcomprises a laser rod.
 29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28,wherein the gain medium comprises an Erbium-based laser rod.
 30. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein the gain medium comprises anErbium-based crystalline laser rod for generating laser light in a rangebetween 1.73 and 2.94 microns.
 31. The apparatus as set forth in claim27, wherein the electromagnetic energy is generated in the TEMoo mode toattenuate thermal effects.
 32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 27,wherein the generated electromagnetic energy has a wavelength, pulse,and power density suitable for cutting and ablating tooth tissue. 33.The apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein the generatedelectromagnetic energy has a wavelength, pulse, and power densitysuitable for cutting and ablating bone.
 34. The apparatus as set forthin claim 27, wherein temporal pulse control is used to attain a uniformtemporal pulse pattern.
 35. The apparatus as set forth in claim 34,wherein gain switching or Q-switching is used in attaining the uniformtemporal pulse pattern.
 36. The method as set forth in claim 26, whereinthe electromagnetic energy has a wavelength in a range from about 2.69um to about 2.95 um.